Prepper Guns on a $1000 Budget: a 3-Gun Set for Personal Security, Hunting, and Other Survival Needs

Today, we're looking at a assembling a 3-gun set, including a basic handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun. All for $1000. Is it possible?

Obviously, we're talking about quality guns in good working condition.

Remember, these guns (and tons of ammo) need to last you a long time, and they need to get the job done.

We're talking long-term survival situations.

As always, I expect plenty of opinion, disagreeing, and criticism. In fact, it's welcomed. The point is always to help other Prepped Survivalists who may be new or less informed than yourself.

Keep in mind that these are by no means the only available options. There are a ton of choices out there.

You may also disagree with the premise of being limited to 3 guns.

I get it.

You may disagree with having one handgun, one rifle, and one shotgun.

I hear ya.

But for new Prepped Survivalists, this is a great place to start. Think of it as a base level for the budget-conscious prepper.

A big thanks to our friends at Survival Cache who put this article together.

A Presumptive Assumption

Before we wrestle with the suggestion of a mere three gun weapons set, know we are simply laying out the most basic defensive weapons deployment for personal and property security, hunting, and other prepper uses.

For the purposes of these recommendations, we are limiting our selection to one handgun, one rifle, and one shotgun.  

The idea is to suggest that such a cache could be acquired for at least $1000, possibly less.   And we are not necessarily talking used guns either, but that option should be left open.  There is nothing wrong with used guns in great condition.

The Basic Prepper Handgun

The recommended choice for a first prepper handgun or rather pistol to be used primarily for self-defense is a semi-automatic pistol chambered for the highly common and widely available 9mm.

Sure there are other choices, but this is a solid middle of the road choice between the .380 ACP and a .45 ACP.

With very careful shopping, a consumer can find a 9mm pistol in the $300-400 range, $500 tops.

Among the list to inspect would be the SCCY (pronounced sky), Beretta Nano, Glock 43 (used), Hi-Point, Kel-Tec, Ruger LC9 (used), Ruger P-Series, Smith and Wesson (used), Stoeger, Taurus and perhaps some others.

There is no evaluation of these models here, just cost considerations.

The Survivalist Rifle

Now it gets a bit tougher.

It would be easy to simply suggest getting an AR-15 platform rifle in 5.56/223 or even perhaps the .300 Blackout or 6.8 SPC for a bit more power.  You could make that choice, but know the AR-15 would be a good choice.

Working gun shows regularly, I have seen new, in the box ARs selling for slightly under $500, $600 tops depending on the exact model.  Check out these brands: DPMS or Bushmaster.  They offer utility bare bones models.

For a basic first prepper rifle, the AR is hard to beat.  

The Elementary Smoothbore

Buying a decent shotgun is probably the easiest of the triple threat.

Buy a pump action shotgun, either a classic Remington 870, a Mossberg 500 or Savage in 12 gauge.  Get serious and forget the 20 gauge.

An ideal defense shotgun would have a barrel of 26-inches or less.  The 20-inch tactical barrel is easier to handle indoors and around barriers.  Make sure the barrel accepts screw in choke tubes so the shotgun can be used for multiple purposes such as hunting.

Good, serviceable used pump shotguns can be found for less than $200.  New ones can be found for $269-329 with some companies offering rebates as well.

You can read more over at Survival Cache.